Commonwealth’s reputation at stake over failure of polls in the Maldives: Canada
21 Oct 2013, 5:08 PM
The Commonwealth’s reputation is at stake following the obstruction of scheduled elections by police in the Maldives, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird has warned.
“Canada is deeply disappointed that the rescheduled first round of presidential elections was delayed. The elections commission was not permitted to fulfill its constitutional mandate of managing and conducting these elections without interference,” Baird said in a statement.
Canada offered its “continued support for the perseverance of the Elections Commission of Maldives under these unacceptable circumstances.”
Baird reiterated that international election observers – including a delegation from the Commonwealth – had agreed that the annulled September 7 polls were free and fair.
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